How to Use an Air Conditioner & Reduce Electricity

Reduce summer electric bills through efficient use of the air conditioner.

Air conditioners serve two functions; they cool the air and remove moisture. In many places, the summer utility bill increases from the operation of air conditioners alone. Reducing bills while keeping your home's interior cool will follow a number of basic tasks a homeowner can perform.

Things You'll Need

• Air filter
• Vacuum cleaner with brush attachment
• Metal duct tape
• Silicone caulk
• Garden hose with sprayer attachment

Instructions

1. Adjust the thermostat to the highest comfortable setting during daylight hours. Set the thermostat a few more degrees higher during the evening or when leaving the home.

2. Close doors and air vents to unoccupied rooms. Reduce the operation of kitchen stove and bathroom ventilation fans. Minimize the use of heat producing appliances, especially on hot days.

3. Pull shades down to reduce incoming sunlight on south and west facing windows. Incoming sunlight radiation increases the heat value that must be removed with the air conditioner.

4. Clean or change the air filter for the air-conditioning system on a monthly basis. Using a dirty air filter reduces the airflow across the cooling coil. which increases operational costs.

5. Vacuum the air intake grill, the exhaust vent ducts and the thermostat housing.

6. Inspect the air ducts on an annual basis for noticeable gaps and leaking air. Cover the leaking gaps with a metal-foil adhesive-backed duct tape. A metal-foil duct tape will permanently seal the cracks in ductwork joints.

7. Seal cracks and air gaps around windows and exterior door trim with a high-quality silicone caulk. Reducing the amount of outdoor air that flows indoors decreases the load on the air conditioner.

8. Keep the exterior condensing coil free of nearby obstructions such as shrubbery or accumulated leaves that may cover the coils. Increasing the airflow to the outdoor coils increases efficiency.

9. Wash down the outdoor condenser coils at least once a year with a garden hose and sprayer attachment. Keeping the aluminum fins free of accumulated dirt increases the unit's efficiency for exchanging heat to the outdoors.

Tips & Warnings

• Install ceiling fans in larger rooms to keep the air under circulation. The fan motor does use electricity, but much less than an air conditioner.

• Install a programmable thermostat for central air-conditioning operation. The programmable thermostats are readily available from many home stores.

References

• State on Indiana: Reduce Your Summer Electric Bill
• Energy Savers: Central Air Conditioners

Resources

• Power Scorecard: Reduce Your Energy Consumption